Caribbean Princess Review

Disappointing......

Review for the Eastern Caribbean Cruise on Caribbean Princess
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Jo
First Time Cruiser • Age 70s

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Sail Date: May 2011

We travelled from the UK and stayed in the Sheraton Brooklyn the night prior.This is a great hotel if in a somewhat run down area. We caught a taxi from right outside the hotel to the Brooklyn Cruise Port at a cost of $26.00We arrived around 12.45 ,checked in within a few minutes are were able to baord the ship and go directly to our cabin which was a bonus!Cabin was a good size with a large bathroom, The balconies on Dolphin deck are not covered but was just big enough for 4 chairs and table. The major downside was it was really hot. Even with the air con on full is was way too hot to sleep. It appeared to be turned off centrally at night. We had to buy a fan in Puerto Rico to try to stay cool enough to sleep.Our cases arrived around 4pm and we set sail a short while after.The ship was packed, mainly American and Asian customers. The first thing we did was to book the Sanctuary, I really do not enjoy lying in rows like sardines on sunloungers with lots of entertainment going on around me so the Sanctuary seemed the obvious choice. This is a small deck at the top of the ship. It had 16 loungers outside and around 20? under cover of a sailcloth type roof. We paid $120 each for a loungers in the sun for the 9 nights. The stewards were lovely laying out your towels and bringing you iced water and towels. You keep the same lounger for the entire cruise. It was possible to book the Santuary on a morning or afternoon session, however it appeared that nearly all the loungers were booked out for the entire cruise and that many customers were turned away disappointed each day , particulary those where we were at sea. Expensive but get in early, its worth it if you want peace and quiet!!Restaurants: We had booked anytime dining, but had been advised on check in to book a table each night. We called to try to book a table, however you are unable to book for the most popular times between 6.30 and 8.30. We specifally requested a table for 2 at the only available time of 8.30. On arrival at the restaurant we were met by the most unfriendly maitre D , who told us we couldnt have a table for 2. After a slightly heated discussion he eventually agreed but told us he would page us when a table was available. There we lots of tables for 2 so I dont know what the issue was. This scenario was repeated every night. It appeated that favoured customers were able to secure the same table for 2 every night and the desired time....Other than that, the service was generally good and the food nice.We are one evening in Sabatinis , however the service was poor and the food below par and at $20 per person a waste of money.Room Service:Not wanting to face the crowds at breakfast we opted for the very limited cold room service breakfast. Virtually every morning the order had items missing, tea was cold etc. and delivered at the wrong time. One time we had room service lunch which arrived after an hour and was not what we ordered. Cabin StewardPleasant enough, cleaning was not through enough for my liking, had to request towels etc which were forgotten and once the cabin was not turned down in the evening. Not around much and had to be paged if we needed anything.Fitness CentreDated equipment and far to small for the amount of people wanting to use it.Some treadmills out of action for entire cruiseLaundryLaunderette on each floor, two washers and two driers.two irons. Again Iron and 1 drier not working for entire cruise and 1 washer not working for 1/2 of it!complained to maintenance but fobbed off , they were not at all interested.Queues.:(I know from previous experience that there are always queues to get on and off ships, this cruise took the biscuit! at some ports particuallt Grand Turk queued for 45 minutes to get off, with only a short stop this is not acceptable.Queing for everything was the norm and really got on our nerves. If possible take the walk off option when you disembark otherwise you have to be out of your cabin at 8.00am and sit in a lounge for several hours. We had been allocated a departure time of 10.50 which we did not want as we had transport arranged for 9.00am. The staff were rude and unhelpful in our request to change this, and again we queued for an hour to try to get this changed. After some very persuavive talking we eventually we given tickets for the express walk off , where you carry your own luggage and were off the ship around 8.15am.SMOKING:If you are a non smoker and do not enjoy breathing in smoke think carefully.Our balcony was pretty much unusable due to the customers in the surrounding cabins sitting/standing on the balconies smoking. The one time we did sit out we were covered in ash from balconies above flicking it over the side.The smoking really ruined the cruise for us as it was very very unpleasant.Drinks:Cocktails were very sweet and sickly and not at all strong. Wine and beer expensivePrincess try to portray a can do attitude in their literature what we experinced was cant be bothered not interested attitude.

Cabin Review

Cabin AA

Located close to lifts which was noisy as they beeped everytime they stopped.

Way to hot in cabin

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